moonspinner55

George Hamilton (in a natty mustache and beret!) plays the brother of a Death Row inmate found guilty of killing his wife in 1934 Chicago. Before he's electrocuted in the chair, the brother asserts his innocence and asks Hamilton to find his wife's real killer, but that's easier said than done. Writer Robert Bloch and director Curtis Harrington deliver what can best be described as a zombie-noir for NBC. Ray Milland as a martinet of the dead, Linda Cristal as one of Milland's "children" gone turncoat, and Ralph Meeker as a disbelieving police lieutenant make up the supporting cast. Not much, but probably better than it needed to be. Harrington trudges through Bloch's episodic scenes, opening with an execution before cueing up a funeral, which then leads us to a dance marathon. Paging Gig Young! *1/2 from ****

Dreadful Italian-West German-Yugoslavian horror movie (filmed in both Italian and German versions by two separate crews!) stars Alex Cord as a photographer on an archeological dig in Italy who is questioned by police after a young couple is found murdered near his base of operations. Cord comes to believe the land is cursed by an Etruscan demon, but others--including ex-girlfriend Samantha Eggar, in a variety of red wigs--start to suspect he's the killer. Unimaginably unappealing thriller with vacant-sounding dubbing. Distributed in the US by National General Pictures, who should have known better. NO STARS from ****

"Return of the Jedi" (later renamed "Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi") was the third film released in the series, garnering mostly mixed reviews. Taking place a year after 1980's "The Empire Strikes Back", the Lawrence Kasdan-George Lucas penned space opera brings back all the original characters under the direction of Richard Marquand (curious that "Empire"'s Irvin Kershner wasn't invited to return). Emperor of the Galactic Empire is constructing a second Death Star in order to permanently extinguish the Rebel Alliance; the Rebel Fleet launches a counter-attack. There's also Luke Skywalker's struggles with Darth Vader, now revealed to be his father; crime lord Jabba the Hutt's hold over Han Solo; and Princess Leia infiltrating Jabba's palace and finding herself enslaved (her provocative attire causing body temperatures to rise among the pre-pubescent boys in the audience). Bubblegum stuff, taken too seriously by die-hard fans, is pretty much stolen by the tribe of furry little Ewoks (though their presence does give the picture a Muppety feel). Spirit is lacking among the human principals, particularly Harrison Ford, usually a reliable source of charm and energy. ** from ****